Briefs: Houston and state

Published 6:30 am, Thursday, December 13, 2001

Houston-based Kinder Morgan Energy Partners said Wednesday it reached a deal to buy a 33.3 percent stake in the Trailblazer Pipeline Co. from Enron Trailblazer Pipeline Co. for $68 million in cash.

With the purchase, Kinder Morgan would own 100 percent of the line, which it already operates. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2002 and is subject to approval by the court overseeing Enron Corp.'s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.

Lights, timers recall cites fire hazards

Latest News Video

Three companies are recalling 109,000 strings of holiday lights and 50,000 outdoor light timers because they could cause electric shocks and start fires.

NBG International of Houston is recalling 100,000 "Rice Light" strings of lights that are 21 feet long with 140 nonreplaceable minibulbs. The attached 3-inch control box has a round dial numbered 1 through 8.

The Christmas lights are sold in a green box with the writing "Rice Light," "140 Mini Bulb String" and "MADE IN CHINA." The wires come in three colors: black, white or green.

Winstar International of New York is recalling 9,000 strings of lights with 100 lights on each string in various colors. Homemaster of Eatontown, N.J., is recalling 50,000 Outdoor Lighting Timers.

Hewlett-Packard Co.'s biggest shareholder is unlikely to change its opposition to the

Compaq Computer
Corp. merger, an officer for the Packard family trust said Wednesday.

Separately, Compaq board member Thomas Perkins said the companies did not plan to change the deal's terms and that HP's board solidly backs Chief Executive Carly Fiorina, who has been the plan's major architect. Compaq's board would stand behind the merger at a board meeting today, he said.

"It will probably be a little less robust rate of growth than our shareholders have become accustomed to, but we've chosen to take a pretty cautious approach in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 events," Parker said in an interview.